On 29th October 2023, Chennai Union of Sree Narayanaguru Dharma Paripalanam (SNDP) Yogam convened its Vaikom Satyagraham Centenary Celebration meet in the city at Malayali Association Hall, in Chetpet, Chennai. It was presided over by Professor. A.Karunanandan. T.K.Unni Krishnan, the Organiser of Chennai Union delivered the Welcome Address.
Ms.Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, M.P., Thiru.E.V.K.S.Elangovan, M.L.A., and Thiru.V.K.Sreekandan, M.P., (Palghat) spoke on the occasion. M.P.Purushothaman, the event patron; Swamy Chaitanyananda of Shivagiri Mutt and Gerin Joy of the Daily ‘Malayala Manorama’ were also present. The vote of thanks was by Rejini Manohar.
Asiriyar Dr.K.Veeramani, the President of the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and delivered a Special Address. He cited numerous hisotrical facts. The excerpts from his speech are as follows:
Sree Narayanaguru was a great social reformer and revolutionary Stalwart in Kerala. Dr.Padmanabhan, fondly called by the nick name ‘Pulp’ was the General Secretary of the SNDP Union. Dr.Pulp started a revolution in the field of education when Travancore was being ruled as a Princely State. If Kerala reigns supreme today as far as literacy rate is concerned, the credit for the pride goes to such great men.
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Dr. Padmanabhan could not acquire education in his own State. He studied pharmacy in London and returned as a qualified practitioner. He applied for a vacant post in Travancore’s Princely domain but Diwan Raghavaiah ridiculed him and gave him a few saplings. He advised him to carry on with his hereditary occupation of producing toddy by growing coconut trees. Dr.Padmanabhan ignored his ridicule and determined to advance in life. He went to the Princely State of Mysore and entered a career that suited best his qualification.
The Vaikom struggle in the bygone days in Kerala started to help the suppressed people get the right to move freely in the streets surrounding the temple. It paved the way for the temple entry rights for the people of all the untouchables. Those oppressed people eventually got the rights nearly a decade after the Vaikom struggle. The Stalwarts who started the struggle were T.K.Madhavan, Neelakanta Namboodiri, K.P.Kesava Menon, George Joseph and a few others. They were all arrested and imprisoned. When they feared failure in their struggle, they wrote from their prison cells to Thanthai Periyar requesting him to come to Vaikom and continue the struggtle on their behalf.
Inspite of his ill health, Periyar arrived at Vaikom and co-ordinated with all the agitators and supporters. He undertook a whirlwind tour all over the towns and villages around Vaikom. He made people aware of the objective behind the struggle by his vigorous and vociferous propaganda and public speeches. He transformed it as a massive public struggle.
Thanthai Periyar and Sahodaran Ayyappan travelled widely all over Kerala and made people realise the purpose of the struggle. Ayyappan had started a reform called “Mishra Bhojanam” and made people of all castes sit together and consume food. This was to nourish the spirit of equality and brotherhood. It was a milestone in the history of social reformation in Kerala.
During the Vaikom struggle Periyar was arrested twice. In order to prevent him from participating further in the struggle, an old case involving him in Madras Presidency was revived as a pretext and he was imprisoned strategically. When Periyar was in the prison cell, his wife Nagammaiar rushed to Vaikom and led the struggle, mobilising the support of women cadres. She made a large number of women take part in the agitation.
Gandhi objected to people of other religions participating in a struggle pertaining to a Hindu temple. But inspite of his objection the struggle continued without any hindrance. When Periyar was informed by Gandhi that it was not fair on the part of people of other Province to involve themselves in the struggle, Periyar wrote a letter to Gandhi explaining how people were being treated like animals in Vaikom by the authorities in power.
When the struggle was about to a success, Gandhi was invited to have a peace-talk with the Regent of Travancore. She agreed to grant the right for free movement on the streets but felt that the agitators may try next to barge into the temple too. Periyar assured through Gandhi that the temple entry right was his next demand and the ultimate goal but the fight would take some more time to start. Upon this assurance of his the Vaikom struggle ended successfully.
Dr.B.R. Ambedkar had mentioned in his Marathi newspaper ‘Bahishkarit’ that the Vaikom struggle had inspired him to start his struggle popularly known as ‘Mahath’, for the use of the tank commonly for people of all castes. Ambedkar secured for the oppressed low caste people the right to use the tank-water drinking.
During our struggle to get the Mandal Commission recommendations implemented for reservations and welfare, the Vaikom struggle history was the source of inspiration for our stalwarts. When the issue was debated in the Parliament, the M.P. Mr.Vijayaraghavan, who hailed from Palghat constituency in Kerala, referred particularly to the Vaikom struggle and argued demanding implementations as per the Mandal Commission Report.
Dr.K.Veeramani concluded his special address by his noteworthy words of praise “We Salute you all who Salute the Heroes of Vaikom Struggle.” He encapsulated a large chunk of history within his speech of just thirty minutes.
Compiled by: M.R.Manohar
